• Foot rot of cereals

  the point of infection around the milky ripe stage (GS 75). Later infections may result in infection of the grain without obvious bleaching of the ears [...] appearance, although this is not always the case. Life cycle and appearance of Foot rot of cereals Microdochium nivale , a fungal pathogen responsible for causing [...] dark lesions and rotting of roots and stems. These visible signs serve as key diagnostic features for identifying the presence of the pathogen in affected

• Loose smut of barley

  emergence. The first sign of infection is the appearance of a smutted ear. Instead of normal tissue, the ear contains a mass of olive-brown smut spores. [...] cycle and appearance of Loose smut of barley The seeds are infected during flowering and the infected seeds are the primary source of inoculum in the next [...] affects barley and can destroy a large proportion of the crop. It is also known as barley smut, or loose smut of barley. Damage symptoms Infection by Ustilago

• Pierce's disease of grapevine

  in olive. Damage symptoms Grapevines: Primary infection of leaves results in leaf scorch. Part of a green leaf suddenly dies and turns brown with adjacent [...] occur on the underside of the leaves. These lesions start out in a light-brown colour, turning to dark-brown or necrosis. Fruits of infected trees are much [...] foliage becomes thinner, but the trees don’t die of the disease. Olives: Scorch symptoms and desiccation of twigs and small branches occur on infected leaves

• Loose smut of wheat

  appearance of a smutted ear. Instead of normal tissue, the ear contains a mass of olive-brown smut spores. Life cycle and appearance of Loose smut of wheat [...] or loose smut of wheat. Damage symptoms Infection by Ustilago nuda f.sp. tritici remains invisible until head emergence. The first sign of infection is [...] the primary source of inoculum in the next crop. The fungus survives inside the seed and when the seed germinates, the mycelium of the fungus grows upwards

• Downy mildew of Cucurbits

  On the underside of the leave fluffy growth appears which is first white and later turns grey-brown. This is actually the sporulation of the pathogens extruding [...] extruding from the stomata. Life cycle and appearance of Downy mildew Pathogens causing downy mildew are not fungi but Oomycetes and related to Pythium [...] protruding from the stomata. Because there are more stomata on the underside of the leaf, this is where most fluffy symptoms are found. How to prevent Downey

• A turning point in Almeria: how predatory mites helped transform agriculture

  May 19, 2025

  Back in the late 1990s, the idea of growing vegetables without chemicals in southern Spain seemed almost impossible. “ At that time, there was only one [...] Koppert Spain at that time. “ Chemicals, people said that biological control was only for the high-tech greenhouses in the north of Europe. Not for us. ” But [...] things changed. And Koppert was at the heart of that transformation. Nowadays Kris is Business Unit Manager Region South Europe MEA. Kris adds: ‘ I am so

• Transforming crop protection: the rise of predatory mites

  September 8, 2025

  greenhouse agriculture and a new world of crop pests. It was the perfect setting for someone eager to apply scientific curiosity to real-world agricultural challenges [...] part of that.” The Swirskii breakthrough that changed everything One of his earliest and most impactful projects at Koppert was the introduction of Amblyseius [...] the backbone of protocols tackling invasive pests like Thrips parvispinus and Scirtothrips in peppers. The power of mites and the role of research Why

• Optimal placement of bumblebee hives

  Correct placement of hives The right placement of bumblebee hives can significantly enhance the pollination efficiency of bumblebees. The following steps [...] it is advisable to position the hives at a height of 20 – 60 cm above the ground on the south side of the path. This location ensures that the hives receive [...] In case of insufficient shade, additional measures should be taken, especially in autumn when the Wireless Beehome System is closed. In times of high t

• Even distribution of predatory insects with Natutec Drive

  ’ says Glasshouse Manager Angel Angelov. ‘When it comes to the even distribution of Koppert’s predatory insects , it’s in a class of its own. It also fits [...] grows a variety of crops. The family-owned agricultural company prides itself on its innovative and sustainable approach to agriculture and uses cutting-edge [...] use and takes care of all these problems. We now spend less than a quarter of the time we used to spend on dispersal and the accuracy of application has improved

• A Year Of Impact For The Koppert Foundation

  August 19, 2024

  ambassadors of environmentally friendly ways of growing healthy food.’ An overview of the projects funded can be found in the 2023 Annual Report of the Koppert [...] considerably improved the quality of young plants. Another example is the development of a programme for the biological control of bacterial wilt in tomato in [...] improving global agriculture through sustainable practices and education. 2023 Project Highlights Geographically, Africa received most of the funding, with